Body Part Donations Without Consent

In a very macabre case, Estate of Eileen Currier v. Pacific Crematorium Inc., San Diego County Super Ct., No. GIC 790944 (May 12, 2005), a jury found a crematorium responsible for dismembering the body of Eileen Currier, who was supposed to be cremated with all her parts, and then selling those parts for embalming practice.

The jury awarded Eileen’s family $1.6 million for emotional distress.

Evidence revealed that the one of the individuals involved in the practice had done the same thing with 77 other decedent’s.  This individual was prosecuted criminally and was sentenced to two decades in the big house.